Students know him as David Mech, a 36-year-old doctorate student who teaches Boca Raton teens as "the Happy/Fun Math Tutor."
To others, he is Dave Pounder, the "Happy/Fun Porn Guy" who owns an adult entertainment business and has performed in such X-rated flicks as "Bikini Banger" and "Cable Sex Guy."
The Palm Beach School District had no idea about Mech's alter ego when it allowed him to put up a giant banner at three schools touting his tutoring company.
Although Mech says the signs have been posted on school fences since 2010, parents at Spanish River High learned of his past in February. They confronted the district, which ordered the signs removed, because it has a policy against accepting ads from adult entertainment companies. Now Mech is suing in federal court for undisclosed damages, saying his civil rights have been violated.
He argues the tutoring business is a separate entity from Dave Pounder Productions, his adult film company, which stopped producing porn in 2010. Mech said he never discussed porn with students and never had students over to his home, instead tutoring them in their homes or in public venues.
"The [tutoring] business is age appropriate, consistent with community values and most definitely consistent with the educational mission of the school district," argued Mech, who last year worked as an adjunct math professor on Palm Beach State's Boca Raton campus.
Mech said he paid about $1,750 for the three signs at the schools. He didn't get any refunds from the district, which considered the money donations.
School district officials argue the tutoring and porn companies share the same Boca Raton business address.
Parents voiced "great concern over the potential for the students using your tutoring services to become subjected to your adult entertainment business," district general counsel Sheryl Wood wrote in a March 15 letter to Mech.
"The district found that was not something we needed to be connected to," Spanish River Principal William Latson said.
Mech, representing himself, said in his lawsuit the banners helped generate about four new clients a month, at rates ranging from $50 to $55 an hour.
Mech said he didn't tell the schools about Dave Pounder Productions, which is now focused on creating non-explicit documentaries about the industry, because it wasn't relevant to the contract.
"If anyone asks a question, I'm not going to lie," he said. "I don't see anything wrong with the adult media business."
Mech entered the porn industry in 2001 and has performed in more than 100 adult films and has directed another 100 for companies such as Blazing Bucks, Kink.com and BangBros.com, which his site describes as the leading adult Internet company in Miami.
He refused to perform in scenes that were violent or degrading toward women and his productions instituted a condom-only policy "to further protect performers and show an element of social responsibility," his website says.
Before getting into the porn industry, Mech earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree in information management from Arizona State University, according to his resume. He is now pursuing a PhD in computer science and math at Florida Atlantic University.
Palm Beach state college spokeswoman Grace Truman said criminal background checks are conducted on instructors but the school's policies don't address whether those with controversial job histories can be hired.
Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
stravis@tribune.com, 561-243-6637 or Twitter smtravis ___
(c)2013 the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.